Pfizer Says Its COVID Vaccine Provides Full Protection to Adolescents

Pfizer Inc. said Monday that its coronavirus vaccine provides long-term protection in youth ages 12-15, according to data from a company clinical trial that included more than 2,200 participants.

In a company clinical trial that included more than 2,200 adolescents, getting two doses of the vaccine was 100% effective against the coronavirus from seven days to four months after the second shot, Pfizer said in a news release.

There were 30 confirmed symptomatic COVID-19 cases in the trial, and all were in the placebo group.

In August, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted full approval of the vaccine for use in people aged 16 and older. The vaccine has been granted emergency use authorization for youth ages 12-15, but Pfizer will submit this new data to the FDA as it seeks full approval for that age group.

"As the global health community works to increase the number of vaccinated people around the world, these additional data provide further confidence in our vaccine's safety and effectiveness profile in adolescents," Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said. "This is especially important as we see rates of COVID-19 climbing in this age group in some regions, while vaccine uptake has slowed."

On Friday, the FDA authorized Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for all adults aged 18 or older.